Shine a Light

Education is a powerful tool and without it few of us would reach our full potential. In refugee camps very few girls have the opportunity to pursue their education beyond primary school and without education these young people have no way out.

Let’s Shine a Light on what girls can achieve if they overcome the challenges they face in accessing education in the refugee camps. With your help we can provide these girls with the tools they need to learn, to strive, and to succeed.

Interested in organizing a fundraising event for Shine a Light? Contact campus@wusc.ca for more information and support.

About Shine a Light

WUSC wants to increase the availability of quality primary, secondary and post-secondary education in refugee camps and to close the gender gap in education between refugee boys and girls. The Shine a Light campaign is a great way to help us address this gender imbalance.

Kenya Equity in Education Project

Girls want to improve their school performance and make up the classes that they missed during the day. When after-school classes are offered in the camps, they are filled to capacity. Girls can make up for lost time and succeed if we can offer more classes after regular school hours.

WUSC Local Committees and individual donors played a crucial part in the development of KEEP by raising money and awareness for the Shine a Light campaign, Now, the Shine a Light campaign will redirect focus and funds on refugee girls' education in Malawi.

Why Girls?

In refugee camp classes, boys outnumber girls 4:1

62 million girls of primary age are out of school.

The gender gap in education is biggest in sub-Saharan Africa, with 23 million girls completely missing out on school.

In many African countries, only one in four girls has a chance of receiving a secondary education. At the post-secondary level, there are twice as many male students as female ones.

Barriers can be religious or cultural, but are more often simple constraints such as lack of teachers, uniforms, textbooks, or sanitary supplies.

Education as a positive force for girls

Girls who study regularly and do well in school inspire their families and communities. Other family members may take advantage of the lamps to read and study, or may become more interested in education.

Girls in school are more likely to avoid early marriage.

Educating a girl dramatically reduces the chance that her child will die before age five.

Educated women are more likely to have healthy, spaced pregnancies, which leads to healthy and educated children.5

Educating a girl improves her ability to support herself and make informed decisions about her own life.

Educating a girl provides her with the confidence to value her body and appreciate her self-worth. This allows her to have a say in the wellbeing of herself, her family and her community.

Educated girls can secure better jobs that provide benefits to the entire family.